Graduated driver licensing for our children is life saving. Statistically, 14% of the fatal traffic accidents involved teen drivers. The public should be aware that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-20 year olds. Experts agree that these accidents are caused by inexperience, immaturity, impulsive behavior, and poor decision making skills. Parents who care will make sure their young driver isn't just handed a driver's license and keys to a car. In their minds, a driver's license is likely the most important thing they've ever received. They see a driver's license as a kind of "get out of jail free" card. What they don't realize is that driving is a privilege, not a right. It is not an entitlement. Without the proper preparation and some basic rules for beginning drivers, the vehicles become lethal weapons. All new drivers should be required to take classes before getting licensed. Classes should include not only the rules of the road and physical time behind the wheel but should emphasize the influence of alcohol, drugs, riders, radios, and cell phones have on the attention of the driver to the road and what is happening around them. When each of my five children got their driver's licenses, they were not allowed to have passengers for six months. In the case of my 4th driver, his younger brother was not allowed to sit in the front seat because he couldn't keep his hands off the AC and radio knobs. He also could not keep his mouth shut so the son who was driving was told to pull-over and deposit his brother on the side of the road and let him walk the rest of the way. The younger son caught on quickly after being dropped off once. As parents, this contract was developed to keep our sons safe. Before learning to drive or ride with a friend, we established this rule for all of our kids: If the driver you rode with or you had been drinking, DO NOT DRIVE or GET IN THE CAR. Call home for a ride, no questions asked. A follow-up talk occurred later. It is much better to have to go pick up your child in the middle of the night than to be sitting at their hospital bedside or identifying their body in the morgue. Accidents do happen but the frequency and severity can be reduced with proper education, more practice time, family rules or contracts. The consequences of not following family rules should result in loss of driving privileges for a specified time. Unfortunately, over the years my children were going through school, they knew several students who were killed through speeding or reckless driving. Educate your children and make driving a family affair gradually. Many states now require new drivers to have learner's permits for one year. Now, that is a good idea! |
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